PRACTICE AREAS

Governmental, Municipal & Regulatory Services

As counsel to cities, towns and other Governmental entities throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the firm assists and advises public officials and committees with respect to matters of day-to-day management, as well as initiating or defending litigation on their behalf.

In recent years, the legal representation of Governmental entities has become a more complex and demanding undertaking. Restrictive economic conditions, increasing state and federal regulations of city and town affairs, and sophisticated municipal litigation issues ranging from land use to liability indicate that this trend will continue.

On a daily basis, the firm deals with virtually all areas of governmental law including zoning and land use issues, environmental issues, civil rights claims, employment discrimination, tort claims, workers’ compensation, collective bargaining, contract negotiation, bidding, procurement, licensing, public utilities, taxation, drafting of ordinances and by-laws, state and federal legislative issues, and every aspect of the town meeting process. The firm fully understands the ramifications of zoning by laws within a town government in general and a land use framework in particular.

Our firm’s public sector litigation experience is similarly comprehensive. The firm represents municipal clients before the state and federal court systems and all administrative agencies in trial, appellate and other proceedings in zoning matters and all other areas.

The firm has the expertise, experience and resources to handle the full range of labor relations, employment and related litigation matters confronting the Governmental units. The firm serves as general and special labor counsel to municipalities, housing authorities, school systems, public retirement boards and other governmental entities throughout the Commonwealth. The firm counsels in all aspects of labor relations, employment, employee benefits and related litigation.

The firm has served as the chief representative for management in the negotiation of more than a thousand public sector labor agreements over the last 30 years, and has also handled numerous arbitrations administered through the American Arbitration Association and otherwise. The firm has had extensive experience with dispute resolution procedures administered through the JLMC as well as the Massachusetts Board of Conciliation and Arbitration and private mediators. Additionally, the firm has handled the full range of Labor Relations Commission administered proceedings including unit definition and clarification, unfair labor practice hearings, appeals, strike investigations and enforcement.

The firm has represented public sector employers in administrative proceedings before the MCAD, Civil Service Commission, Massachusetts Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, EEOC, U.S. Department of Labor, and other administrative agencies concerned with administering and overseeing the labor laws and the employment relationship. Moreover, this firm has substantial and extensive experience in litigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and numerous other statutory enactments which affect upon the workforce.

Through many years of providing counsel to governmental entities, the firm understands not only the range of labor relations and employment issues they must address, but also the economic issues which today are more pressing than ever. By combining the personalized attention and economy of a solo practitioner with the expertise and depth of resources of a major law firm, we provide the highest caliber of legal representation and responsiveness, utilizing a broad base of experience, legal resources and advanced technology to ensure that our clients are served as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

Tax Title Services

The firm offers comprehensive and aggressive tax title litigation services, resulting in a precipitous drop in the delinquent real estate tax liability in Massachusetts communities. In addition to the timely filing of Land Court Foreclosure proceedings, our strategies include: Direct and intermediate contact with delinquent taxpayers; Research of lien holder interests; and Securing equitable remedies in the Land Court process.

Our office is prepared to track each case through the Land Court process and obtain timely judgment to foreclosure an owner’s right of redemption, and ultimately achieve sale and recovery of tax deficiency amounts if necessary.

In tandem with tax title recovery services, our office is able to provide litigation services in seeking relief from automatic stay in bankruptcy and other bankruptcy litigation services.

Contact us today if you have questions about Governmental, Municipal & Regulatory Services

WACHTERHSUSER, KIER

Kier Wachterhauser

Partner

(617) 479-5000 kwachterhauser@mhtl.com

Mr. Wachterhauser is a partner at MHTL. Mr. Wachterhauser represents private and public sector clients in all areas of labor and employment law and maintains a general litigation practice. Mr. Wachterhauser regularly counsels clients on employment matters, including wage and hour, leave entitlements, and discrimination and harassment matters, as well as the drafting of employment policies and contracts, and represents clients in employment-related litigation before state and federal courts and administrative bodies, such as the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and Read More

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David A. DeLuca

Partner

(617) 479-5000 ddeluca@mhtl.com

Formerly an Assistant District Attorney with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Mr. DeLuca handles a full spectrum of tort, contract, land use and workers’ compensation litigation matters. He is experienced in all phases of state and federal trial and appellate court advocacy, having handled administrative law judge, bench and jury trials including personal injury, product liability, domestic litigation, zoning and tax disputes, insurance litigation, workers’ compensation claims and civil rights violations. Mr. DeLuca advises building inspectors and planning directors Read More

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John P. Flynn

Partner

(617) 479-5000 jflynn@mhtl.com

Mr. Flynn has served as Town Counsel for thirty years to the Town of Natick, and has served as Town Counsel to the Town of Milton for twenty-two years. He represents these towns in all phases of municipal law including litigation, environmental matters, zoning, personnel issues, contracts, licensing, eminent domain, and the entire spectrum of town meeting issues. Mr. Flynn also has provided general counsel and special counsel services for over twenty years to many towns and school committees for Read More

MACCARO, MIKE

Michael J. Maccaro

Partner

(617) 479-5000 mmaccaro@mhtl.com

Mr. Maccaro’s practice is focused on the areas of labor and employment in the public and private sector, litigation, and employee benefits. Following law school, Mr. Maccaro served as a Law Clerk to the Justices of the Superior Court for two years. Prior to joining Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane LLP, Mr. Maccaro served as Associate General Counsel for a large public sector labor union. He has litigated numerous matters, negotiated hundreds of contracts and has argued before various state Read More

North Karis MHTL final

Karis L. North

Partner

(617) 479-5000 knorth@mhtl.com

Karis L. North has been practicing municipal and public sector law since 2006, and has over twenty years of experience counseling and resolving complex disputes for public clients. She is currently Town Counsel for the Town of Natick, Special Counsel to the Towns of Cohasset and Burlington, and provides legal services to other cities and towns in Massachusetts. Ms. North is also an experienced litigator on behalf of municipalities and municipal agencies, private parties, and non-profit organizations. She has experience Read More

Mello Peter MHTL crop final

Peter L. Mello

Partner

(617) 479-5000 pmello@mhtl.com

Mr. Mello represents clients in a robust range of civil litigation and regulatory matters, including in the areas of construction, land use and zoning, employment, contract matters, and disputes involving state and local governmental entities, among others. He has practiced before state and federal courts and state agencies in Massachusetts, and has successfully represented clients at trial and in appeals. He has advised private clients and governmental entities alike regarding myriad and diverse issues, including with respect to construction, zoning, Read More

linda headshot 1 2022 (002)

Linda Champion

Attorney

(617) 479-5000 lchampion@mhtl.com

Ms. Champion’s practice is focused on litigation, government, municipal, and regulatory service. Ms. Champion serves as co-counsel to the firm’s public retirement board clients and supervises its extensive docket of MGL c. 32 cases from disability retirement to survivor issues and related workers compensation issues. She is a member of the Massachusetts Association of Public Pension Attorneys. Ms. Champion has successfully litigated cases before the Superior Court, District Court, Land Court, Housing Court, and at administrative law proceedings before state Read More

Latest News

Statutory Regulations Released for Interagency Review of Complex Cases

On March 1, 2024, EOHHS and DESE released the long-awaited, final adoption of the regulations governing the Interagency Review of Complex Cases (published as 101 CMR 27.00). These regulations had been anticipated since the Massachusetts Legislature passed “An Act Addressing Barriers to Care for Mental Health” in August, 2022. The purpose of the law is the establishment of a team that will collaborate on complex cases where there is an urgent need to address a lack of consensus between state agencies about the service needs or placement of an individual. This replaces what was known as the Unified Planning Team, or “UPT”. The co-chairs of the IRT will be the secretary (or a designee) from EOHHS and the commissioner (or a designee) of DESE.

Legal Updates

Statutory Regulations Released for Interagency Review of Complex Cases

On March 1, 2024, EOHHS and DESE released the long-awaited, final adoption of the regulations governing the Interagency Review of Complex Cases (published as 101 CMR 27.00). These regulations had been anticipated since the Massachusetts Legislature passed “An Act Addressing Barriers to Care for Mental Health” in August, 2022. The purpose of the law is the establishment of a team that will collaborate on complex cases where there is an urgent need to address a lack of consensus between state agencies about the service needs or placement of an individual. This replaces what was known as the Unified Planning Team, or “UPT”. The co-chairs of the IRT will be the secretary (or a designee) from EOHHS and the commissioner (or a designee) of DESE.

Braintree, MA

50 Braintree Hill Office Park, Suite 410,
Braintree, MA 02184

Boston, MA

75-101 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110

Tel: (617) 479-5000
Tel: (888) 841-4850
Fax: (617) 479-6469

Quincy, MA

Crown Colony Plaza
300 Crown Colony Drive, Suite 410
P.O. Box 9126
Quincy, MA 02169-9126

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